“Pandora.” Her heart sinks. “Mum, this isn’t a very good time…”
“When is ever a good time with you? You left in such a hurry last night, before the meal was over. We didn’t raise you to behave like that in front of guests.”
“Craig Tong, you mean,” Penny hisses.
“You won’t take that tone after I tell you the good news.”
“Good news?”
“Wonderful news, actually. Craig says he might be able to get you a government job in science policy. Isn’t that great? Of course, he can’t promise anything, but you’d be out of the lab—”
The track curves like a natural skateboard bowl, and in the dip, Penny spies the roof of the house. Ignoring her mother on the phone, she ducks down. There could be sentries. Penny needs to get out of the open. She puts on a little spurt to cover the distance to the pines
